Talking Points....
Connect Fellowship 8/26/2025
This week’s group discussion will focus on the second and third parts of Pastor Doug’s inspiring series “The Spirit Filled Church.”
I. Part 2
A. The Holy Spirit is the oxygen of the Kingdom of God. What oxygen is to our lungs and the rest of our body, the Holy Spirit is to the Kingdom. Without oxygen, we can't breathe and don't exist. Without the Spirit of God, the Church and Kingdom cannot manifest itself.
1. When we feel overwhelmed with the struggles of life, what can we do to be more receptive to the Spirit so we can breathe freely again?
B. It is funny how we don't always include the Spirit before we get into crisis mode, but once we are in that situation, we think it is time to pray. However, the first thing we should do is seek His guidance in prayer.
1. What are things that we should change so that we pray before we end up in a crisis?
C. The Spirit filled church is a worshiping church.
1. We need to have an atmosphere of worship.
2. Acts 2:1&2 - When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3. The Spirit filled the house before He filled the people.
4. What are things that we should do before entering God's house to help prepare ourselves an atmosphere for worship?
D. There is a prophetic flow that happens in worship that won't otherwise.
1. 2Kings 3:14-16 - And Elisha said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you, nor see you. But now bring me a musician.”
Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him. And he said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Make this valley full of ditches.’
2. While the musician was playing, the Hand of God came on Elisha.
3. Surrender yourself in worship and watch what God does.
4. Share how surrendering yourself in worship has helped you to feel the hand of God touching you through His Spirit.
E. We have a command to praise.
1. Psalms 150:1-6 - Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Praise God in his holy sanctuary! Praise him in his stronghold in the sky! Praise him for his miracles of might! Praise him for his magnificent greatness! Praise him with the trumpets blasting! Praise him with piano and guitar! Praise him with drums and dancing! Praise him with the loud, resounding clash of cymbals! Praise him with every instrument you can find! Let everyone everywhere join in the crescendo of ecstatic praise to Yahweh! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
2. What should we do when we don't feel like praising?
F. Worship is a celebration of grace.
1. Luke 15:25 - Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
2. How has celebrating grace through worship helped you?
G. The Spirit filled church is a generational church.
1. In the same way we honor the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we need to honor generationally in three ways. We honor up. We honor down. We honor all around. Honor is showed to those older than us, younger than us, and people who are our age.
2. Joel 2:28 - And it shall come to pass afterward
That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your old men shall dream dreams,
Your young men shall see visions.
3. Share a time when you were shown honor from someone you didn't expect, and how the Spirit was able to touch you because of what they did for you.
H. A clear sign that a church is no longer functioning as a Spirit filled church is when it allows itself to lose vision and grow old.
1. What are things we can do to seek His vision for our Church and not grow old?
I. As we get a passion and a supernatural burden for the next generation, the Spirit of God shows up in our church in a way that we cannot manufacture on our own.
1. What is keeping you from having more passion and a supernatural burden for the next generation? How can you change that?
J. Children are important to Jesus, we should treat them as He does.
1. Mark 10:13-16 - The people brought children to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus was irate and let them know it: “Don’t push these children away. Don’t ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.” Then, gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them.
2. How can we treat our kids more like Jesus does?
II. Part 3
A. The Spirit filled church is a generous church.
1. Acts 2:42-45 - Every believer was faithfully devoted to following the teachings of the apostles. Their hearts were mutually linked to one another, sharing communion and coming together regularly for prayer. A deep sense of holy awe swept over everyone, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. All the believers were in fellowship as one body, and they shared with one another whatever they had. Out of generosity they even sold their assets to distribute the proceeds to those who were in need among them.
2. The power of the Holy Spirit filled them with generosity.
3. Has the Spirit ever filled you with unexpected generosity? How did it feel?
B. God desires our hearts.
1. Jesus talked about money as much as He did because He is after our hearts.
2. Matthew 6:21 - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
3. Have you ever let money rob you of Jesus? How did you change that?
C. We need to ask for Spiritual gifts so that we can be a blessing and advance His Kingdom.
1. Romans 12:4-8 - For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
2. How have you been able to use your Spiritual gifts to be a blessing and advance His Kingdom?
D. The Spirit filled church is an influencing church.
1. Acts 2:46&47 - Daily they met together in the temple courts and in one
another’s homes to celebrate communion. They shared meals together with
joyful hearts and tender humility. They were continually filled with praises to
God, enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord kept adding to their
number daily those who were coming to life.
2. How can we encourage others in our church to be more spirit filled?
E. God uses available, Spirit filled people.
1. Faithful people get expert result, even though they aren't experts, because they show up for him.
2. We do what we can do, and God does what only He can do.
3. Share a time when God used you because of your availability and openness to His Spirit.
F. We need to be filled with boldness.
1. Acts 4:29-31 - 'So now, Lord, listen to their threats to harm us. Empower us, as your servants, to speak the word of God freely and courageously. Stretch out your hand of power through us to heal, and to move in signs and wonders by the name of your holy Son, Jesus!” As they prayed the earth shook beneath them, causing the building they were in to tremble. Each one of them was filled with the Holy Spirit, and they proclaimed the word of God with unrestrained boldness. '
2. What are things we can do to increase our boldness?
G. Your story has the power to influence.
1. Tell people your Jesus story. People can't argue your experience. Give God glory for everything.
2. A person with an argument will always be at the mercy of a person with a Spirit filled experience.
3. Would anyone like to share what Jesus has done for your story this week?
H. Reflection time.
1. What has God put on your heart since hearing the first part of Pastor Doug's message, "The Spirit Filled Church?"
This week’s group discussion will focus on the second and third parts of Pastor Doug’s inspiring series “The Spirit Filled Church.”
I. Part 2
A. The Holy Spirit is the oxygen of the Kingdom of God. What oxygen is to our lungs and the rest of our body, the Holy Spirit is to the Kingdom. Without oxygen, we can't breathe and don't exist. Without the Spirit of God, the Church and Kingdom cannot manifest itself.
1. When we feel overwhelmed with the struggles of life, what can we do to be more receptive to the Spirit so we can breathe freely again?
B. It is funny how we don't always include the Spirit before we get into crisis mode, but once we are in that situation, we think it is time to pray. However, the first thing we should do is seek His guidance in prayer.
1. What are things that we should change so that we pray before we end up in a crisis?
C. The Spirit filled church is a worshiping church.
1. We need to have an atmosphere of worship.
2. Acts 2:1&2 - When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3. The Spirit filled the house before He filled the people.
4. What are things that we should do before entering God's house to help prepare ourselves an atmosphere for worship?
D. There is a prophetic flow that happens in worship that won't otherwise.
1. 2Kings 3:14-16 - And Elisha said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you, nor see you. But now bring me a musician.”
Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him. And he said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Make this valley full of ditches.’
2. While the musician was playing, the Hand of God came on Elisha.
3. Surrender yourself in worship and watch what God does.
4. Share how surrendering yourself in worship has helped you to feel the hand of God touching you through His Spirit.
E. We have a command to praise.
1. Psalms 150:1-6 - Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Praise God in his holy sanctuary! Praise him in his stronghold in the sky! Praise him for his miracles of might! Praise him for his magnificent greatness! Praise him with the trumpets blasting! Praise him with piano and guitar! Praise him with drums and dancing! Praise him with the loud, resounding clash of cymbals! Praise him with every instrument you can find! Let everyone everywhere join in the crescendo of ecstatic praise to Yahweh! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
2. What should we do when we don't feel like praising?
F. Worship is a celebration of grace.
1. Luke 15:25 - Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
2. How has celebrating grace through worship helped you?
G. The Spirit filled church is a generational church.
1. In the same way we honor the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we need to honor generationally in three ways. We honor up. We honor down. We honor all around. Honor is showed to those older than us, younger than us, and people who are our age.
2. Joel 2:28 - And it shall come to pass afterward
That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your old men shall dream dreams,
Your young men shall see visions.
3. Share a time when you were shown honor from someone you didn't expect, and how the Spirit was able to touch you because of what they did for you.
H. A clear sign that a church is no longer functioning as a Spirit filled church is when it allows itself to lose vision and grow old.
1. What are things we can do to seek His vision for our Church and not grow old?
I. As we get a passion and a supernatural burden for the next generation, the Spirit of God shows up in our church in a way that we cannot manufacture on our own.
1. What is keeping you from having more passion and a supernatural burden for the next generation? How can you change that?
J. Children are important to Jesus, we should treat them as He does.
1. Mark 10:13-16 - The people brought children to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus was irate and let them know it: “Don’t push these children away. Don’t ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.” Then, gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them.
2. How can we treat our kids more like Jesus does?
II. Part 3
A. The Spirit filled church is a generous church.
1. Acts 2:42-45 - Every believer was faithfully devoted to following the teachings of the apostles. Their hearts were mutually linked to one another, sharing communion and coming together regularly for prayer. A deep sense of holy awe swept over everyone, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. All the believers were in fellowship as one body, and they shared with one another whatever they had. Out of generosity they even sold their assets to distribute the proceeds to those who were in need among them.
2. The power of the Holy Spirit filled them with generosity.
3. Has the Spirit ever filled you with unexpected generosity? How did it feel?
B. God desires our hearts.
1. Jesus talked about money as much as He did because He is after our hearts.
2. Matthew 6:21 - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
3. Have you ever let money rob you of Jesus? How did you change that?
C. We need to ask for Spiritual gifts so that we can be a blessing and advance His Kingdom.
1. Romans 12:4-8 - For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
2. How have you been able to use your Spiritual gifts to be a blessing and advance His Kingdom?
D. The Spirit filled church is an influencing church.
1. Acts 2:46&47 - Daily they met together in the temple courts and in one
another’s homes to celebrate communion. They shared meals together with
joyful hearts and tender humility. They were continually filled with praises to
God, enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord kept adding to their
number daily those who were coming to life.
2. How can we encourage others in our church to be more spirit filled?
E. God uses available, Spirit filled people.
1. Faithful people get expert result, even though they aren't experts, because they show up for him.
2. We do what we can do, and God does what only He can do.
3. Share a time when God used you because of your availability and openness to His Spirit.
F. We need to be filled with boldness.
1. Acts 4:29-31 - 'So now, Lord, listen to their threats to harm us. Empower us, as your servants, to speak the word of God freely and courageously. Stretch out your hand of power through us to heal, and to move in signs and wonders by the name of your holy Son, Jesus!” As they prayed the earth shook beneath them, causing the building they were in to tremble. Each one of them was filled with the Holy Spirit, and they proclaimed the word of God with unrestrained boldness. '
2. What are things we can do to increase our boldness?
G. Your story has the power to influence.
1. Tell people your Jesus story. People can't argue your experience. Give God glory for everything.
2. A person with an argument will always be at the mercy of a person with a Spirit filled experience.
3. Would anyone like to share what Jesus has done for your story this week?
H. Reflection time.
1. What has God put on your heart since hearing the first part of Pastor Doug's message, "The Spirit Filled Church?"